West Yorkshire - Sound Testing - 0113 850 0152

We offer professional acoustic consultancy in West Yorkshire, involving comprehensive services across all aspects of sound testing, noise measurement, assessment and control.

All of our engineers are accredited sound testers under the SITMA scheme.

Our sound testing consultants specialise in the provision of high quality and practical acoustic consultancy to both the public and private sectors in West Yorkshire and the surrounding areas. Typically working with residential and commercial developers, architects, local planning authorities and environmental services.

We actively encourage our West Yorkshire clients to seek our services at the earliest opportunity so sound testing and the integration of any acoustic issues can feature into the overall design of a development; removing the need for costly revisions.

Having been involved in building and architectural projects at all stages of development, from the specification of the external building envelope and internal separating elements, through to pre-completion testing, our expert advice has been sought after for a variety of projects. From new build, refurbished and converted developments including residential, commercial, entertainment, leisure and hotels, in addition to a wide variety of mixed-use developments.

We strongly believe that our sound testing service delivery around the West Yorkshire area is second to none and that clients retain our expert services because of our continuous commitment to providing high quality and cost-effective advice.

In July 2003, the new Approved Document E 'Resistance to the Passage of Sound' (ADE 2003) of the Building Regulations came into force across the UK, including West Yorkshire. This requires that new residential properties and rooms for residential purposes be sound tested (or "pre-completion tested") to demonstrate compliance with the explicit sound insulation performance requirements of ADE 2003.

Guidance in ADE 2003 on pre-completion testing indicates that sound tests should be carried out at a rate of one set of tests per each construction sub-group completed, no matter the size of the development, and thereafter at least one set of tests every ten completions (assuming no failures).

The onus is on the developer to perform pre-completion testing before the property can be 'released to market' and it is now an offence not to perform this test.

We often advise property developers, contractors, housing associations and local authorities in West Yorkshire on the implications of ADE 2003. Advice is given on the materials and construction details for separating floors and walls and the key interfaces with other building elements. We also offer advice on the additional requirements of ADE 2003 including the control of reverberation in common areas and the performance of internal walls and floors.

A number of our clients have asked us about the practical application of RSDs, as in some instances the option for construction is reduced and construction costs may be significantly higher than those of a non-RSD structure.

Pre-Completion Testing - The following table outlines the sets of tests that are required for New and Converted properties.

Property Types

Test Requirements

Dwelling-houses Including bungalows

Normally, one set of tests will comprise of 2 sound insulation tests (SITs) and 2 airborne tests:
1. Living room (wall)
2.Bedroom (wall)

To conduct a set of tests, the sound insulation between the main rooms should be measured according to the principals set out above for new buildings and material change of use, but adapting them to suit the circumstances.